Packaging machine



H. E. ENGLESON El AL I 2,973,611

March 7, 19 1 PACKAGING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March13, 1957 INVENTORS'. HARRY EENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK BY We? ATT'Y sMarch 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON ETA]. 2,973,611

PACKAGING MACHINE INVENTORS: HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK 36 WMMJJATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EI'AL 7 I PACKAGING MACHINE OriginalFiled March 15, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG 4 ELMER D. SRAMEK BYQ Z? gATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EI'AL 2,973,611

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG.5

\N: 2 l I 24 a 29 2Q I24 28 L INVENTORS: HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER. D.SRAMEK WW/ex March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESON EIAL 2,9 3,5

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTORS:

HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E. ENGLESONETAL PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 7zzvmvroas; HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS March 7, 1961 H. E.ENGLESON ETAL 2,97

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 ATT'YS INVENTORSI HARRY E. ENGLESON \h ELMER D. SRAMEK March 7, 1961 H. E.ENGLESON EIAL 2,973,611

PACKAGING MACHINE Original Filed March 13, 1957 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Ir ILINVENTORSI 7 FIG. 20 HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK H. E. ENGLESONETAL 2,973,611

March 7, 1961 PACKAGING MACHINE 1o Sheet-Sheet 10 Original Filed March15, 1957 INV TORS: RY E. E E ER D. SRAM HAR ELM mwm MW ATT Ys ero, IlL,assignors to F. B. Redington C0., Bellwood, 111., a corporation ofDelaware Original application Mar. 13, 1957, Ser. No. 645,736. Dividedand this application Apr. 7, 1958, Ser. No. 726,969

10 Claims. (Cl. 53-266) This invention relates to machines for packagingarticles in cartons of cardboard or the like, and more particularlythisinvention'relates to such machines for packaging elongated articleswhich may be stacks of paper cups or the like, stacked together andconsidered as a unit. Specifically;, this invention relates to aconveyer arrangement necessary to accomplish successive steps ofpackaging and sealing the cartons, and which must occupy a minimum ofarea or factory space.

This invention consists generally oiia packaging machine for receivingelongated articles such as stacks of paper cups moving axially along afirst conveyor, a second conveyer. with a carton handling mechanismassociated therewith to insert-a single expanded carton into each ofsuccessive pocketson the second conveyer, and

an article transferring arrangement for cyclic operation to insert thearticles received from the first conveyer into M the cartons held by thesecond conveyer.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved arrangement forreceiving articles from a first conveyer such that the articles areraised and held axially in align ment with a carton held on a secondconveyer, thereby permitting a cyclic transfer mechanism to engage andmove the articles into the cartons.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatusfor removing flattened cartons singly of thermagazine, whereupon amovable stripper member may be inserted into ithe gap and intoengagement with the lowermost carton. for moving. the carton apart fromthe magazine; and anotherspecific object provides a means forexpandingthe flattened carton wherein a restraining" member havingsuction cups thereon will adhere to an rupper panel of the carton whilea, transfer 7 member, also with suction cups thereon, will adhere to alower panelto pull the carton downwardly while a restraining force pullsthe'top panel of the carton upwardly. Thus the carton is expanded andthence is carried downwardly intoa pocket of the conveyer.

Another objectof this invention is to provide an improved packagingmachine for operating intermittently and in. cycles, each cycle beinginitiated when an elongated-article, such as a stack of paper cups, isreceived from a firstconveyer. The cycle of operation will includetheraising of the article above the first conveyer and the transferringthereof into a paper carton held on the second conveyer, which c'onveyerwill. thence move by a predetermined increment of travel. Successivemovements-of the second conveyer accomplish the steps of foldingend:flapson the carton, applying glue thereto,

sealing thecarton and discharging. the carton to a verti- I from amagazine, for expanding the cartons from their cal magazine... Aposition sensing electrical switch will be operated stopping the machineand completing the cycle, whereafter another successive cycle may beinitiated.

A more complete understanding of the present invention, its mode ofoperation, and its advantages may be gathered from further reading ofthis specification together with an inspection of the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front side elevational view of a specific packaging machineemploying the teachings of this invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionalong the line 22 in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a single carton as it would be expandedand held'by the second conveyer of this machine, together with a portionof the elongated article which may be a stack of paper drinking cups andwhich is positioned for insertion into the carton;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionxof the packaging machine along the line 4-4of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating a terminal portionof the first conveyer together with the article transfer mechanismincluding an elevator trough and a transfer chain whereby the articlemay be moved into an awaiting carton;

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are similar vertical elevational views, at reducedscale, of the mechanism shown generally in Fig. 5, the transfermechanism illustrated therein being shown progressively in time sequenceduring the operation thereof; 1 r

Fig. 9 is an. enlarged vertical section along the line 9'--9 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical section along the line litl10 of Fig. 2showing a fragmentary portion of the packaging machine and particularlyillustrating the mechanism removing the flattened cartons singly fromthe magazine;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section along the line 11-11 of Fig. 10; I i

Fig. 12 is a vertical section along the line 12--12 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a vertical section along the line 13-13 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 14 is a vertical section along the line 14-14 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the magazine forholding a stack of flattened cartons and with the mechanism for removinga single carton from the-bottom of the stack;

' Fig. 16 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end offthe magazineand mechanism 1 generally illustrated in Fig. l5-and showing the drivemeans for operating the suction arms and the stripper members therein; iFig. 1-7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the packagingmachine of this invention, particularly illustrating the mechanism forgluing, sealing and discharging the cartons;

Fig. 18 is a perspective View of the packaging machine of this inventionwith many parts removed to show only the driving arrangement forreciprocating a vertical carriage;

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the power or driving mechanism of themachine of this invention wherein the supporting structure has beenremoved to more clearly illustrate the drive means; I

Fig. 20 is a horizontal section along the line 20-20 of Fig. 19 andshowinga fragmentary part of the driving arrangement more completelyillustrated in Fig. 19; and

Fig. 21 is a schematic representation illustrating themovementsofcartons as they progressfrom. the supply magazine to thesecond conveyer, past a sealing mechanism and thence to a dischargemagazine.

General arrangement The packaging machine of this invention includesgenerally a first conveyer 1 for transporting the elongated articles orstacks of paper cups 2, and a second conveyer 3 for holding and carryingfibrous cartons 4 into which the paper cups are to be inserted. A cycleof operation is initiated when the articles 2 move to a terminal part ofthe first conveyer 1 and actuate a detector means such as a pivotal arm5 which will be depressed downwardly, Figs. 6 and 7. The detector arm 5is coupled to operate an electric switch 6, Fig. 5, which in turn causesoperation of an article elevating means such as an elevator trough 7positioned to engage and raise the articles 2. An article transfer meanssuch as a transfer finger 8 attached to a movable chain 9 thence movesthe cups forwardly into a carton 4 held by the second conveyer 3 andpositioned in axial alignment with the articles 2.

The second conveyer 3 is driven intermittently by a drive meansincluding at Geneva gear 10, Fig. 2, such that the conveyer 3 will moveforwardly by a predetermined or incremental amount. The conveyer 3 issupported by a pair of vertically spaced horizontal shafts 11 and 12with sprockets 13 and 14 mounted thereon, and therefore the conveyer 3will move vertically around the shafts 11 and 12 by incremental ordiscreet intervals of travel. The shaft 12 is supported by suitablebearings and the sprockets 14 are keyed thereto, while the sprockets 13are journaled on the shaft 11.

A carton 4 is removed from a magazine 15 and expanded and inserted intoa pocket or bucket 16 which is held at rest between intervals of travelat the uppermost part of the conveyer 3 over the shaft 11, Fig. 2. Themechanism for removing cartons 4 from the magazine 15 and expanding andinserting them into the conveyer 3 will be described subsequently. Aftera carton is inserted into the pocket 16 at a station A atop the conveyer3 the conveyer may move by a single increment of travel carrying thecarton to a station B, Fig. 2, which is in axial alignment with thearticle 2 positioned on the elevator trough 7.

After insertion of the article 2 the conveyer moves the carton 4 to arest station C, Figs. 2 and 21, whereinthe carton is merely held withthe cups therein, without further processing. The conveyer thence movesthe carton around the lowermost shaft 12 and sprockets 14 and thenceupwardly to a station D. In a subsequent movement the carton is carriedfrom station D to a station E during which interval of travel glue isapplied to certain end flaps of the carton and the flaps are closed uponeach other and held firmly to permit the glue to set. The cartons arethence expelled from the conveyer at station E by a pusher member 17,Fig. 21, which moves the carton horizontally from the pocket 16. Thecarton then passes through a discharge or delivery magazine 18 whereineach successive carton is raised by elevator fingers 19, Figs. 1 and 18,thereby raising the cartons one on the other, stacking them as indicatedin Fig. 21, whereupon an attendant may remove the cartons for shipping.

The erected cartons are held in the pockets 16 as they pass from stationA to station E by transversely spaced retaining rails 1611, Figs. 2 and15.

Article transfer mechanism As shown in Fig. 5, the first conveyer 1 maybe a pair of spaced apart V-belts 20 trained around a pair of pulleys 21mounted on a shaft 22 at the terminal end of the conveyer, and supportedat intermediate points along the conveyer -1 by further pulleys 23. Theshaft 22 is journalled in a fixed support 24, and the belts 20 aredriven continuously such that when an elongated article 2 is placedthereon it will move to the terminal end, as indicated in Fig. 6. Thedetector arm 5 is pivotally mounted at a point 25 and extends diagonallyupward between the spaced apart belts 20 of the conveyer 1, andtherefore, as an article 2 moves to the terminal end of the conveyer 1the detector arm 5 is pivoted downwardly to operate the electric switch6, Fig. 5. The elec tric switch 6 iselectrically coupled to energize asolenoid 26 which is coupled to rock a bell crank 27 by a connectinglink 28. A tension spring 29 is connected to an arm of the bell crank 27in opposition to the solenoid 26, and therefore the bell crank 27 isnormally pivoted to an extreme clockwise position about a pivot point30, as shown in Fig. 5.

The elevator trough 7 is positioned between the spaced apart belts 20 ofthe conveyer 1, Fig. 9, and is supported at one point by an upstandingarm 31 of the bell crank 27 and at another point by an upstanding arm 32pivotally connected at one end to the bell crank and at the other end toa fixed point. Thus the arms 31 and 32 together with the elevator trough7 constitute a parallelogram and, as a part of such, the elevator trough7 may move upwardly from a normal position below the level of the belts20, as shown in Fig. 9, by solid lines, to a raised position shown bydotted lines 7', Fig. 9the elevator trough continually maintaining alevel positioning by virtue of the parallelogram mounting thereof. Whenthe detector arm 5 is depressed and the solenoid 26 thereby energized,as shown in Fig. 5, the bell crank 27 is pivoted thereby raising theelevator trough 7 to a position wherein the article 2 is supported abovethe belts 20 of the conveyer 1, as shown in Fig. 5 and as shown by thedotted lines 7 in Fig. 9.

Simultaneously with the raising of the elevator trough 7, the chain 9moves to transfer the articles 2 into the carton 4. The chain 9 issupported at the ends thereof by end sprockets 33 and is further trainedabout a drive sprocket 34. The transfer finger 8 in an initial positionshown in Fig. 6 is positioned near the drive sprocket 34 and remote fromthe first end sprocket 33; therefore, a slight time delay takes placeafter the operation of the solenoid 26 and the raising of the elevatortrough 7 before engagement of the article 2 by the transfer finger 8,since the transfer finger must travel a substantial distance along thechain 9 prior to assuming the position shown in Figs. 5 and 7. Afterengagement with the article 2, the transfer finger 8 moveslongitudinally with the lower reach of the chain 9 over the elevatortrough 7 thereby pushing against and moving the article 2 into thecarton 4, as shown in Fig. 8. The transfer finger 8 thence movesupwardly continuing on the chain 9 to the initial position shown in Fig.6, while the second conveyer 3 is driven through a predetermined amountof travel at the end of which the cycle is completed, the solenoid 26 isdeenergized and the elevator trough 7 is lowered to the initial positionfor a subsequent cycle of operation, as shown in Fig. 6.

Carton expansion and insertion apparatus The cartons used by the machineof this invention may be of cardboard or other suitable fibrous materialand may be rectangular in configuration when expanded. Thus the carton4, Fig. 3, includes a top panel, 35, a bottom panel 36 and two opposedspaced side panels 37 and 38, together with two sets of end flaps 39,which when closed will form a substantially rectangular container.

When supplied to the machine, the cartons are folded flat such that thepanels 35 and 37 lie against each other and the panels 36 and 38similarly overlie each other. The end flaps 39 are simply straightextensions of the panels 35-38. The flattened cartons are thus stackedin a magazine, as shown in Fig. 15, and are supported by opposedstationary rails 40 and an intermediate stationary rail 41 which arespaced apart from each other and positioned at the bottom of themagazine. Between each pair of adjacent spaced apart rails 40 and 41, apivotal arm 42 having a pair of "suction cups 43' thereon is positionedto engage the lowermost carton4 in the magazine 15. Each arm 42 withsuction cups 43 thereon constitutes a carton engaging means to which thelowermost carton will adhere when vacuum is applied through theconnecting hoses 44, Fig. 15. I

. When the arm 42 pivots upwardly on its mounting shaft 45 and vacuum isapplied to the suction cups 43 via the hoses 44, the lowermost carton 4will adhere thereto and then as the arm 42 is pivoted downwardlysomewhat, the lowermost carton 4 will sag between the stationary supporting rails 40 and 4l thereby creating openings or gaps 46 between thelowermost carton 4 and the remaining cartons stacked in the magazine. Astripper member 47, positioned closely adjacent each carton engagingmember 42, will move forwardly and a finger 48 of each stripper, Fig.15, will be inserted into the gap 46 between the lowermost carton 4 andthe remainder of the cartons in the magazine. The vacuum to the suctioncup 43 is then broken to release the carton for removal from themagazine. As the stripper members 47 continue to move forwardly thelowermost carton 4 will slide transversely from the magazine along therails 40 and 41 to a rest position 49 apart from-the magazine 15, Fig.21. A stationary restraining member 50, Fig. 1, is positioned above therest position 49 and includes a pair of spaced apart suction cups 51supported thereon. The suction cups 51 are positioned to engage theupper or top panel 35 of the-carton 4 in the rest position 49 while atransfer member 52, having upwardly turned suction cups 53 mountedthereon, is positioned to move upwardly into engagement with the bottompanel 36 of the carton 4. Thus, the cartons are essentially expanded byuse of suction cups gripping the top and bottom panels, this arrangementbeing more efficient than the heretofore used expander.

needle.

While vacuum is being applied to both sets of suction cups 51 and 53;the transfer member 52 moves downwardly pulling with it the bottom panel36, while a restraining force is offered by the restraining member 50tending to pull the top panel 35 upwardly. As a result, the carton 4moves downwardly against the restraining force and is expanded such thatthe top and bottom panels defining the pockets 16 are arranged to followa path outside of the plate 54 and the retaining rails16a.

M echanism for sealing and discharging the cartons The machine of thisinvention is designed to operate in cycles, eachcycle being initiatedwhen the detector arm 5 senses the presence of an article 2 at theterminal end of the first conveyer 1. In the operation of this machinethe feeding of the articles 2 upon the first conveyor 1 may beinterrupted from time to time, and therefore the packaging machine ofthis invention is subject to occasional stoppages. It is thereforenecessary that the gluing, fiap folding and sealing operations forclosure of each carton 4 be completed within a single interval of travelof the second conveyer 3. It will be appreciated that if the gluing andsealing operation is thus accomplished as the carton 4 is moved betweenthe rest station D and the next successive rest station E that aprolonged period of non-operation will not create an adverse effectbecause the gluing operation may not be completed.

The glue is applied to the inside surfaces of a pair of oppositelyspaced side flaps 39; Fig. 3, as the carton is moved upwardly past'a-pair of spaced glue applying'rolls 55. The glue applying rolls- 55have holes ordepressions 56 therein for holding'glue, Fig. 17, and aremounted to rotate in close spaced relation or engaging relation with apump 101157. The glue is initially poured as a liquid into a reservoir58 into which the roll 57 is partially immersed. As the roll 57 rotatesin a direction indicated by an arrow 59, Fig. 17, a stationary spacedbar 60 will intercept and retain excess glue thereon, thus permitting aneven film of .liquid glue toadhere to the roll 57 and move therewith tobe transferred to the glue applying rolls. A pair of drive gears 60 and61 assure that the rolls 55 will rotate at a uniform linear velocity, ascompared to the velocity of the pump roll 57, and therefore, theapplication rolls 55 will receive a measured quantity of glue from thepump roll 57 to apply to the opposed flaps 59 which will move upwardlyon the second conveyer 3 thereagainst.

During advancing of the cartons between stations A and B, the side endflaps at the end of the carton opposite the loading end thereof areclosed, and the other side end flaps are closed subsequent to theloading of the carton and during travel of the cartons between stationsB and D. Mechanism for effecting these operations is old and well known,and therefore not disclosed in detail. Further, the top and bottom endflaps at each end are folded back to the position as seen in Figs. 2 and21 so that the glue may easily beapplied thereto.

After each carton 4 passes the glue rolls 55, Fig. 17, the flaps 39 arefolded over and closed by means including a pair of stationary spiralfolding plates 62 engaging-and folding the side flaps inwardly uponthepreviously closed side flaps at each end of the carton. The foldingplate closest to the conveyer and the closedend of the pockets is shapedand arranged to fold over the top flap first so that the bottom flap maybe folded over the top flap and eliminate a flap edge which might catchon the brushes 63.

When the carton arrives at the rest position E on the second conveyer 3,both ends thereof have been closed and glued byopposed spaced glue rolls55 and folding plates 62, one set of which is shown in Figs.

2 and 17. Each end of the carton is securely held' by resilient pressurethereagainst by opposed spaced L-shaped brushes 63, Figs. 1 and 17, andthus the flaps :are held tightly together during an interval oftimewhile the glue is setting.

A pusher member 64, Fig. 17, movablypositioned at each end of the cartonpositioned at rest station E on the conveyer 3 thence engages and movesthe carton horizontally from the conveyer between the opposedspacedbrushes 63 and along stationary supporting rails After the cartonhas been expelled from the conveyer position E, a carton squaring member66 descends upon eachend thereof and by impingement between the squaringmember 66 and the rail 65, the carton is forced to assumea proper squareor rectangular shape, while pressure is continued against the flaps 39by the brushes 63. Thus, during the interval while the glue is somewhatsoft, the flaps are held together and the carton is held in a preciserectangular configuration. The squaring member 66 is resiliently mountedupon a vertically movable bracket 67 by means of compression springs 68therebetween.

The carton 4 will remain in the position beneath the squaring member 66until, in a subsequent operating cycle of the machine, the pusher member64 pushes a subsequent carton outwardly from the conveyor and in sodoingthe previous carton is pushed to a bottom position in the-deliverymagazine 18. Thence the spaced apart elevating fingers 19, Fig. 18, willmove upwardly raising the carton in the discharge magazine 18 andraising all other cartons positioned thereabove; thereby providing spacefor the subsequent carton to be moved to the bottom position of themagazine 18 in a next successive operation of the machine. After thecarton 4 has been raised by the fingers 19 in the discharge magazine 18a spring urged dog 69 will move inwardly of a slot 690 in the guide rail70 of the discharge magazine 18, thereby preventing the carton 4 fromdropping back to its initial position, although the resilientcompression ofiered against the ends of the carton 4 by the opposedspaced brushes 63, Fig. 1, is ordinarily sufiicient to maintain thecarton in the elevated position.

Power and drive arrangements As shown in Fig. 19, the first conveyer 1is directly driven from a motor 71 by a pair of pulleys 72 and 73 and abelt 74 trained therearound. Thus it will be appreciated that while themotor 71 is running the conveyer 1 will likewise be running and willmaintain a continuous motion at a substantially constant speed. Theremaining rotating or operating parts of the machine of this inventionare driven by another motor 75 which is coupled by a pulley and beltarrangement 76 to a power control means such as a magnetic clutch 77.The magnetic clutch 77 is electrically coupled with and responsive tothe electric switch 6. As shown in Fig. 19, dot ted lines 78 areindicative of the electrical coupling between the microswitch 6, thesolenoid 26 and the magnetic clutch 77.

When the detector arm senses the presence of an article 2 at theterminal end of the conveyer 1, the electrical switch 6 causes operationof the solenoid 26 and the magnetic clutch 7 7.

The function of the solenoid 26 has been previously explained asinitiating an operating cycle of the machine. Simultaneously with theoperation of the solenoid 26 the magnetic clutch 77 functions todrivingly couple the motor 75 to a principal drive shaft 79a which is asleeve mounted loosely upon the clutch shaft 79 and having a spur gear80 fixed thereto. Thus the shaft 79 turns continuously causingcontinuous operation of the glue rolls 55 through the mechanical linkagecomprising a chain 81, a sprocket 81a on the shaft 79 and a sprocket 81bon a shaft 82, miter gears 83, a spur gear 84 and the gears 60 and 61.The spur gear 80 rotates only upon operation of the magnetic clutch 77and during a cycle of operation of the machine, and thus a gear 85engaged therewith will cause an auxiliary drive shaft 86 to rotate onlyduring operating cycle. The gear 85 will rotate through one completerevolution and a cam 87 will rotate therewith, whereupon a secondelectric switch 88 will be operated from the cam 87. The operation ofthe electric switch 88 will function to terminate the operating cyclewhich was initiated by the electric switch 6 by deenergizing thesolenoid 26 and the magnetic clutch 77 During the single revolution ofthe gear 85, or operating cycle, a pair of gears 89 and 90 will causerotation of a driving gear 91 engaging the Geneva gear 10. The ratio ofthe gears 89 and 90 is 1:2, such that the gear 90 rotates one-halfrevolution during each operating cycle and therefore the Geneva gearwill rotate through one-quarter revolution through each cycle. Rotationof the Geneva gear is not continuous during the cycle, but is arrangedsuch that during the first portion of the cycle and during the finalportion thereof the Geneva gear 10 will rest, while during anintermediate portion of the cycle a gear 93 will be driven therefrom.The gear 93 is drivingly coupled to the shaft 12 by a gear 94 and isthus drivingly coupled to move the second conveyer 3 during a particularportion of the operating cycle.

A chain 95 trained about a gear 96 and thereby driven from the shaft 86is trained about an idler gear 97 and around two sprockets 98 and 99.The sprocket 98 is drivingly associated with a rotary valve 100 which isconnected to supply vacuum to the three'sets of suction cups 43, 51 and53. The rotary valve being turned by the sprocket 98, the chain 95therefore moves in synchronism with the conveyor 3 and with theoperating cycle of the machine generally. Thus the timing in applyingvacuum to the suction cups .43, 51 and 53 is synchronized with theoperating cycle. A vacuum hose 101 is connected to a source of vacuumnot shown and further vacuum hoses 44, 102 and 103 connect with suctioncups 43, 51 and 53 respectively. A crank 104 is likewise coupled torotate with the sprocket 98 to produce reciprocal motion transmitted bya link 105 and an arm 106 to rock the shaft 11. The reciprocal motionfrom the shaft 11 is transmitted by a pair of arms 108 and links 109 toreciprocate the stripper members 47, Figs. 17 and 19. As shown in Fig.16, the stripper member 47 is attached to a bracket 110 which isslidably mounted on a pair of rods 111. Reciprocation of the bracket 110also operates the suction engaging members 42. An arm 108a is integralwith each arm 108 and connected to the pushers 64 to reciprocate sameand eject the cartons from the pockets 16 at station E, Fig. 17.

The conditioning of the lowermost carton in the magazine by the suctionengaging members 42 prior to removal of the carton from the magazine issynchronized with the reciprocation of the strippers 47. As thestrippers are returned to engage and remove successive cartons from themagazine, the strippers pass beneath the magazine and cartons, and thestrippers move in the direction indicated by the single-headed arrow 47ain Fig. 12. At about the time the stripper fingers 48 clear the rearedge of the magazine, a cam follower 110a on each bracket 110 engages acam surface 45b of a cam lever 45a secured to the shaft 45, Fig. 11. Thecam lever 45a is continually biased against the follower 110a. Furthermovement of the strippers and the bracket causes the cam lever 45a to becammed upward thereby rocking the shaft 45, Fig. 11, clockwise andmoving the engaging members 42 upward into engagement with the lowermostcarton in the magazine. Vacuum being fed to the suction cups of theengaging members causes the members to grip the carton. As the strippersare moved forward toward the magazine in the direction of the arrow 47b,Fig. 12, the cam follower 110a, leaving the cam lever 45a,'permits thelever to be lowered thereby bringing certain carton portions down, Fig.15, so that the stripper fingers 48 may enter between the lowermostcarton and the next successive carton and permit the stripper to slidethe lowermost carton from the magazine. The vacuum of the engagingmember will be broken at about the commencement of the stripper cartonremoval stroke.

A second crank 1'12 is mounted to rotate with the shaft 86, Figs. 18 and19, and to impart reciprocal motion to a link 113. The reciprocal motionproduced in the link 113 is transmitted to an arm 114 to rock a shaft115, Fig. 18. The rocking motion of the shaft 115 is transmitted tospaced apart arms 116 and through a pair of links 117 to reciprocate acarriage 118 mounted to move vertically on a pair of slide shafts 119.The carriage 118 includes a pair of brackets 120 at the lower extremitythereof to which is attached the elevator fingers 19. Thus, as the shaft86 rotates during a cycle of operation of the machine, the carriage 118is reciprocated vertically and the elevator fingers 19 are carriedtherewith.

The transfer member 52 connects between the opposed spaced parts of thecarriage 118 and constitutes a part thereof. Therefore, as the carriage118 reciprocates vertically during a cycle of operation, the transfermember 52 likewise reciprocates vertically carrying the suction cups 53therewith. Also the brackets 67 of the am-sgei squaringmembers- 66 areconnectedto the carriage 118 forree'iprocation therewith.

During each cycle of operation the transfer finger 8 moves with thechain 9 which is driven by the sprocket 34, Fig. 19. The sprocket 3d isdriven from the gear 99 by a pair of meshing gears 121. Since the "gear99 is driven from the chain 95 and from" the shaft 86, the motionthereof is synchronized with each machine operation. Therefore, theportion of the transfer finger 8 likewiseis synchronized with theoperation of the machine.

Operation of the machine At all times during operation of the machine ofthis invention, the conveyer 1 is continuously running and the gluerolls 55 arecontinuously rotating. Advancing of the nested cups alongthe conveyer 1 causesdepression of the detector 5 which'initiates acycle of operation and simultaneously effects energization of thesolenoid 26 andoperation of the clutch '77. Energization of the solenoid26 serves to elevate the trough 7 and a stack of cupsto the cup loadingposition. Further, elevation of the trough brings into play the stop 122which holds up i the flow of more cups to the trough. The articletransfer finger 8 then advances the stack of nested cups along thetrough 7 and into' the carton held in the conveyer pocket 16 at the cuploading station B. Energization of the clutch 77 effects driving-of thepower shaft 86.

During rotation of the shaft 86 through one revolution, the strippers4-7 are initially retracted beneath the cartons in the magazine and tothe carton engaging and removing position. As the strippers 47 retract,the reciprocal pushers 64 are operated to eject a carton from theconveyer pocket 16 at the ejecting stageE. Also, a carton is expanded byaction of the restraining member 50 andthetransfer member52, and thetransfer member 52 further serves to load the expanded carton into a;pocket 16'of the conveyer 3 at the carton loading station: A; During theloading of the carton, the squaring member 66 effects squaring up of thelast ejected carton prior tothe time the carton will be further advancedby the pushers 64-into the vertical magazine 18. Further retractingmovement of the strippers 47 rocks the suction engaging members 42upwardly to engage the next successive lowermost carton. With vacuumbeing fed to the suction engaging members, the lowermost carton isfirmly gripped thereby, and as the strippers initiate their forwardstroke to removethe lowermost carton from the magazine, the suctionengaging members are rocked downwardly in order to permit insertion of.the fingers 48 on the strippers 47 between the twolowermost cartons.When the fingers have been properly inserted, the vacuum will be brokento the suction engaging members andthe strippers will advance to removethe lowermost carton from the magazine to'the expanding station.

The Geneva gear is then operated to advance the conveyer 3 through onestep so that all of the conveyer pockets are advanced to the nextsuccessive station. The transfer member 62 then returns to pick up thenext successivecarton as it is brought forward by ,the strippers 47, Asthe transfer member returns, the cartons in the vertical magazine areelevated to make room for the next successive ejected carton. During theadvancing of the conveyer pockets, the side end flaps of the carton atthe end opposite the loading end of the carton are closed between thestations A and B. The end flaps at the loading end of the carton areclosed between the cup loading station B and the dwell station D. Also;the top and bottom end flaps at each end of. the carton are opened tothe position shown at station D, Fig.v 2,.to be conditioned for the glueapplying operation. Between the dwell stations D and the ejectingstation E, glue is applied to the top and bottom end flaps at each endof the carton and these end flaps are folded over a closed position byfolding plates 62. The

. 10 inner'folding plates 62 closest to the closed end of the conveyerpockets are shaped or arranged to fold over the top end flaps first. Thebottom end of the flaps are folded over last and slightly overlap thetop end' flaps so that the carton may be ejected from the conveyer tothe vertical magazine 18 without catching the edge of the top end flapson the brushes 63.

- Finally, at the end of one revolution of the shaft .86 theswitch 88 isactuated to effect denergization of the solenoid 26 and the clutch 77,thereby stopping all moving parts except the continuously runningconveyer 1 and the glue rolls 55, and thereby lowering the trough 7 toitsposition for receiving the next load of paper cups. Lowering of thetrough 7 also lowers the stop 122 so that the next stack of paper cupsmay be advanced onto the trough 7 and to the detector 5 for initiatingthe next successive cycle of operation.

Accordingly, it is seen that each cycle of operation is initiatedbyactuation of the detector 5 which operates the electric switch 6 and isterminated by actuation of the switch 88.

The design of the packaging machine of this invention is such to providea flexibility whereby stacks of paper cups or articles 2 may be ofvarious sizes, and whereby the cartons 4 for containing the cups thereinmay likewise be of corresponding variable size. The shafts 11, 12 and 86may be of such lengths as to accommodate the maximum dimensioned cartonand article. One end supporting wall 123 is fixed while an opposedspaced end supporting wall 124, Fig. 1, is adjustable in its positionand when an article of reduced dimension is desired to be packaged inacarton of reduced dimension the wall may be moved inwardly toward thewall 123, whereupon the shafts llll, 12, 86 and will merely extendoutwardly of the wall 124. The positioning of the sprockets 13 and 14may be altered to vary the dimension of the second conveyer 3 and thepocket attachments 16 may be changed to accommodate a carton ofdifiernet dimension.

This application is a division of our copending application SerialNumber 645,736, filed March 13, 1957.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and

the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fall fairlywithin the scope of the following claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. Ina packaging machine, apparatus for transferring an elongatedarticle from a first continuously driven 2. In a packaging machine,apparatus for transferring I an elongated article from a firstcontinuously driven conveyer means into a carton held by a secondintermittently driven conveyer means, said apparatus comprising anelongatedelevating member operatively associated with the first conveyermeans for engaging and raising the article from the first conveyer meansand for holding the article in axial alignment with the carton on thesecond conveyer means, a transfer finger positioned to extend over theelevating member to engage the article, and a drive means associatedwith the transfer finger, said drive means being operable to move thetransfer finger longitudinally of the elevating member thereby movingthe article into the carton.

3. In a packaging machine, apparatus for receiving an pair of spacedapart belts and for transferring the article into a carton which is heldon a second conveyer, said apparatus comprising an elevator troughpositioned between the belts of the first conveyer, a means drivinglyassociated with the elevator trough for lifting the elevator troughabove the level of the belts and thereby to raise the article from thefirst conveyer and to provide an abutting end to stop the movement ofsubsequent articles, and a transfer means operatively associated withthe elevator trough for moving the article axially along the trough andinto the carton on the second conveyer.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the transfer meanscomprises an endless chain trained around sprockets and having a reachextending longitudinally of and in spaced relation to the elevatortrough, and a transfer finger attached to the chain and movabletherewith, said transfer finger extending transversely across theelevator trough and engageable with the article there- 5. In a packagingmachine, apparatus for receiving an elongated article from a firstconveyor which includes a pair of spaced apart continuously moving beltsand for inserting the article into a carton held by a second conveyer,said apparatus comprising a trough having a 1ongitudinally disposed andcentrally positioned slot, said trough being positioned to movevertically between the spaced apart belts of the first conveyer, atrough raising means drivingly coupled to the trough for raising thetrough with the article thereon to a level over the belts of the firstconveyer whereby a rearward end of the trough forms a stop against whicha subsequent article may abut, said trough and the article thereon beingin axial alignment with the carton on the second conveyer, a detectorarm extending upwardly through the slot in the trough for sensing thepresence of an article on the trough, said trough raising means beingresponsively coupled to the detector arm to raise the trough andinitiate a packaging cycle of the machine when the article appears onthe trough, and a transfer means peratively associated with the troughand responsively coupled to the detector arm for moving the articleforwardly along the trough and into the carton.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein is included an electricswitch operatively associated with the detector arm and wherein thetrough raising means includes a solenoid mechanically coupled to thetrough and electrically coupled to the electric switch whereby movementof the detector arm and operation of the electric switch will resultfrom the presence of an article on the trough and whereby the operationof the electric switch will result in energizing the solenoid and theraising of the trough thereby.

7. A machine for packaging elongated articles in cartons, said machinecomprising a first conveyer for transporting the elongated articlespositioned to move longitudinally therealong, detector means operativelyassociated with the first conveyer for sensing the presence of anarticle thereon, an elevator means operatively associated with the firstconveyer and responsively coupled to the detector means, said elevatormeans being operable to move from an initial position and to raise thearticle from the first conveyer while providing a stop for subsequentarticles thereon, a second conveyer for carrying cartons, said secondconveyer being in spaced relation to hold a carton in axial alignmentwith the article on the elevator means, means operatively associatedwith the elevator means for engaging and moving the article axially fromthe elevator means into the carton on the second conveyer, drive meanscoupled to the second conveyer for moving the conveyer a predeterminedamount after the carton has received the article therein, and a meansassociated with the drive means for restoring the elevator means to theinitial position thereof to complete a cycle of operation.

8. A machine for packaging elongated articles in cartons, said machinecomprising a pair of spaced apart belts constituting a first conveyerwhereon the elongated articles may be moved axially, an elevator troughpositioned between the spaced apart belts and mounted to move upwardlyfrom an initial position below the level of the belts, a detector meansoperatively associated with the first conveyer for sensing the presenceof an article thereon, a trough raising means responsively coupled tothe detector means and operatively associated with the elevator troughfor moving the elevator trough upwardly and for thereby raising thearticle above the first conveyer, a second conveyer for carryingcartons, said second conveyer being positioned in spaced relation withthe first conveyer and with the elevator trough whereby a carton is heldin axial alignment with the article on the elevator trough, meansoperatively associated with the elevator trough for engaging and movingan article axially along the trough and into the carton, drive meanscoupled to the second conveyer for moving the conveyer a predeterminedamount when an article is received in the carton, and a means associatedwith the drive means responsive to the conveyer movement and coupled tothe trough raising means whereby the elevator trough will be restored tothe initial position thereof to complete a cycle of operation.

9. In a packaging machine having a first conveyer and a second conveyer,a magazine for storing collapsed cartons, first means for removingcartons from said magazine one at a time, second means for expandingeach carton and loading same on said second conveyer, transfer apparatusfor transferring articles from said first conveyer and loading same incartons on said second conveyer, third means for advancing said cartonson said second conveyer through a plurality of successive stations,fourth means for ejecting said cartons from said second conveyer to avertical magazine, fifth means for squaring each ejected carton prior toinserting same into the vertical magazine, and sixth means for elevatingsaid cartons in said vertical magazine so that the next successivecarton may be inserted in the bottom of said vertical magazine.

10. In a packaging machine having an article conveyer and a cartonconveyer, means for loading expanded cartons on said carton conveyer,means for transferring articles from the article conveyer to cartons onsaid carton conveyer, a plurality of stations along said cartonconveyer, drive means for advancing said carton conveyer step-by-step toeach successive station, means arranged between the first and laststation for closing the end flaps of the cartons and gluing them shut, avertical magazine arranged adjacent said carton conveyer for receivingthe closed cartons for drying, ejector means arranged at the laststation for ejecting each closed carton from the carton conveyer andinserting same into said vertical magazine, and means for squaring upeach ejected carton prior to its insertion into said vertical magazine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,298,637 Armstrong Apr. 1, 1919 1,515,589 Beckmann Nov. 18, 19241,825,058 Goldstein et al Sept. 29, 1931 1,927,404 Jensen Sept. 17, 19331,935,269 Jones Nov. 14, 1933 1,954,278 Adams Apr. 10, 1934 2,045,337Stone et al June 23, 1936 2,092,786 Taylor Sept. 14, 1937 2,441,445Ringler et al May 11, 1948 2,651,896 Woodruif et al. Sept. 15, 19532,744,372 Cleaveland et al May 8, 1956 2,804,738 Shenigo Sept. 3, 19572,904,941 Midnight Sept. 22, 1959

